Ambient vehicle and pedestrian state detection for device notification

ABSTRACT

Described is a technology by which ambient data related to a vehicle is sensed and processed, for use in determining a state change related to external traffic awareness. Based upon the state change, an allowed level of interactivity with a user interface may be changed, and/or a notification may be output. Images and/or depth data may be sensed as part of determining whether a user who is interacting with a device in a stopped vehicle is to be made aware of the changed condition with respect to other vehicles, pedestrians and/or the like.

BACKGROUND

When a driver is stopped, he or she often interacts with a mobile device. At such a time, the driver is unaware of the state of other vehicles and/or pedestrians around his or her vehicle. Driver distraction is often evident when a red light changes to green and a car does not move when even when cars in front have moved forward.

Accidents with pedestrians as well as vehicles are another concern with distracted drivers. A driver may react suddenly and move forward upon realizing that he or she is supposed to be moving forward at the time, possibly as a result of a honking horn from a driver behind. However, such a sudden movement can be dangerous. Any technology that assists drivers with respect to safe and attentive driving is beneficial.

SUMMARY

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of representative concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used in any way that would limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Briefly, various aspects of the subject matter described herein are directed towards a technology by which one level of interaction with an interactive device is allowed while a vehicle associated with the device is stopped, and a reduced level interaction is provided upon determining an ambient state changing to a sensed condition associated with external traffic awareness. Ambient state relative to the vehicle is sensed to determine the state change, and a notification may be output to notify the user of the state change.

In one aspect, a sensor set provides data to detection and notification logic of a device associated with a user vehicle. The detection and notification logic is configured to process sensed data from the sensor set, including determining a state change associated with an external traffic awareness state. Upon determination of the state change, the detection and notification logic outputs a notification to the automotive user interface. The detection and notification logic may change an allowed level of user interaction with the automotive user interface based upon the detection of the state change.

The sensor set may comprise a camera, which may capture frames of depth data. In one aspect, depth data is processed depth data to determine a state change related to external traffic awareness. Based upon the state change, an allowed level of interactivity with a user interface may be changed, and/or a notification may be output.

Other advantages may become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limited in the accompanying figures in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 is a representation of an example device coupled to various components to detect and take action upon ambient state related to a vehicle, according to one example embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of example components and data used in detecting and take action upon an ambient state change related to a vehicle, according to one example embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram representing example steps that may be taken to detect and act upon ambient state changes related to a vehicle, according to one example embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram representing an example computing environment, in the form of a mobile device, into which aspects of the subject matter described herein may be incorporated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various aspects of the technology described herein are generally directed towards monitoring ambient activity (e.g., external traffic and pedestrians) near a user's vehicle so as to notify the user as to a state change with respect to the activity. For example, a mobile device gracefully ceases interaction with the user so that the user can attend to the task of safe driving. If there are pedestrians in the area, the technology notifies the user, possibly in a different way, so as to avoid overly quick acceleration.

It should be understood that any of the examples herein are non-limiting. For one, while a mobile device is used as an example of a suitable device for implementing the technology described herein, a more stationary (e.g., built-in or partially built-in) device may be used. As such, the present invention is not limited to any particular embodiments, aspects, concepts, structures, functionalities or examples described herein. Rather, any of the embodiments, aspects, concepts, structures, functionalities or examples described herein are non-limiting, and the present invention may be used various ways that provide benefits and advantages in computer-related user interaction and notification in general.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram comprising an example implementation in which a mobile device 102 such as a user's cellular phone is coupled to a vehicle dashboard via a suitable mount 104. The mount 104 may include an interface such that when mounted, the device 102 receives power 103 and may be coupled to other input and/or output mechanisms. Alternatively, a separate interface such as a physical connector (e.g., to the device's USB interface) may be used for power and/or other input/output.

In the example implementation of FIG. 1, automotive user interface 106 by which input is received and output is rendered comprises the touch-sensitive display screen of the device 102. However, as can be readily appreciated, various alternative implementations may be used to implement the technology described herein. For example, a typical built-in vehicle navigation or entertainment system already provides a display screen and interactive capabilities, whether via a touch-sensitive screen or by controls (e.g., buttons) for navigating a set of menus and the like, and such a system may be coupled to sources of data and programmed to input and output information as described herein. As also described herein, speech may be used to provide input, audio (e.g., spoken notifications) may be output, and so forth. The display may be a heads-up display in another implementation.

As represented in FIG. 1, a sensor set 108 such as comprising one or more cameras, one or more depth cameras and/or other types of sensors (e.g., motion sensors) provides input to the device 102. The sensor set 108 may comprise the built-in rear-facing camera of the mobile device 102, potentially augmented with an extra camera for depth information, for example. Alternatively, an external sensor or multiple external sensors may provide the information regarding objects (e.g., other vehicles, pedestrians, animals and things like shopping carts) that can be sensed, e.g., “in view” of the sensor set.

Processing of the input data allows monitoring for and detection of various state information, including red brake lights of vehicles in front disappearing (indicating that traffic is likely moving), and/or a traffic light switching from red to green (or to a green arrow) and objects such as pedestrians coming into the field of view.

To increase precision, the sensor set 108 may comprise a depth-sensing camera, which provides depth data for analysis. For example, instead of relying solely on color changes, which may or may not be definitive, sensing that a large object (e.g., another car) in front of the user's vehicle has increased its distance is a likely indication that traffic has started moving. Similarly, a pedestrian in the field of view actually may be far away, such as crossing at the next light; without depth information, it is likely more difficult for image processing to determine such a state.

By monitoring ambient traffic and pedestrians, an automotive user interface 106 is able to control user interface behavior such as to disallow user interface interaction while notifying users to moving traffic ahead so that drivers can pay attention to the task of safe driving. The automotive user interface 106 may alert users to pedestrians trying to cross, so that users do not suddenly accelerate.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram representing example components of one embodiment. In FIG. 2, the sensor set 108 provides input via a suitable interface (of a set of one or more interfaces 220) to detection and notification logic 222 running on the device. As set forth above, the sensor set 108 may comprise a device camera (if present), an accessory component, an external (e.g., vehicle mounted) camera and/or sensor, and so forth, or any combination thereof.

In general, the detection and notification logic 222 processes the sensed data from the sensor set 108 to determine a current situational state, and controls the automotive user interface 106 based upon that state. This may include allowing interaction while stopped, and upon a state change indicating the user needs to pay attention to driving, disabling interaction until a later time, and/or outputting visible, audio and/or tactile information (or anything else capable of being sensed by a user, such as blacking out a screen display) to notify the user of the state change. For example, a graceful way to notify a user may be to fade out or slide out the currently displayed output and fade in or slide in an actual camera view of what is ahead of the vehicle. A border may gradually change from glowing red to glowing green. Audio 110 (e.g., shown as wireless such as via Bluetooth® but alternatively wired) may be output in the form of a voice, song or one or more tones may alert the user of the state change, the vehicle seat and/or steering wheel may vibrate, and/or the like.

As represented in FIGS. 1 and 2, other inputs to device 102 may be used in the decision making process. For example, GPS data 112 may indicate that the user is stopped on a highway, and not at a stoplight. If so, traffic data 224 (e.g., from the cloud 114, FIG. 1, or other remote source) may be accessed to determine whether this is going to be a long duration stop or not, and if long, may allow interaction. Pedestrian-sensing sensitivity may be reduced for a highway situation versus increased for city driving.

Other data that may be input includes user preference data 226, which may be stored in the cloud 114 (FIG. 1), on the device and/or in another memory, such as in the vehicle's memory or an accessory's memory. For example, one user may want a faster notification than another user, and/or more sensitivity, e.g., allow ten feet versus five feet before notifying, which also may be based upon various conditions, such as passengers in the car, night versus day, heavy versus light traffic, and so on. A user may want some types of interaction allowed and others blocked, e.g., navigation-related and hands free calling may be allowed, but not texting. A user may want one set of “interaction-allowed” rules for one person and a different set of rules for others, e.g., the vehicle owner versus his teenage son.

Yet another set of possible input data is vehicle-related data 228. For example, if a vehicle is put in park, different rules may apply. For example, a mother may allow her own phone to be interacted with when stopped, but not her teenaged driver's phone, unless the vehicle is also put in park. If there is a passenger present, the rules and/or timing may change. Speed may be determined by processing a camera's images over successive frames, but it not available, GPS data may be used, or the speed of the vehicle may be detected by coupling the device to input the speedometer/corresponding vehicle computer data, or to a radar-based or laser-based device or the like.

Another aspect is directed towards calibrating the “normal” parked or stopped state for a vehicle. For example, some older vehicles bounce around significantly when the engine is on (e.g., running roughly) and the vehicle is otherwise stopped. If such motion otherwise is sensed and/or corresponds to object movement, the “stopped” state for the car may be calibrated to this “normal” state. As one example use, this compensates for a situation in which a stationary object such as a lamppost appears to be moving because the vehicle is stopped but bouncing around.

FIG. 3 is an example flow diagram directed towards processing by the detection and notification logic 222 based upon sensing ambient conditions. In one implementation, a straightforward rule-based decision making classifier may be used in conjunction with image/depth data processing. In other implementations, machine training/learning may be used to build a classifier.

Step 302 represents the logic determining from input whether the vehicle is stopped or moving, e.g., by processing successive images over time, or from GPS data. If moving, step 302 branches to step 316, which in this example reduces interaction to only certain activities such as hands-free calling, or possibly some map interaction, but in another example may fully disable interaction. Note that if already in the disabled state, step 302 can wait for the car to stop moving instead of branching to step 316, which loops back to step 302. Further note that that some of the steps in FIG. 3 are shown as looping for purposes of illustration, however it can be readily appreciated that instead of looping, an event-driven model may be used instead of or in addition to looping.

If the car is stopped, step 302 instead branches to step 304 where the logic may perform computations and the like on the various variable data to determine whether to allow interaction and if so, (possibly) to what extent. For example, as described above, whether the user is on a highway or stopped at a light may be a determining factor as to whether to allow or deny interaction (or allow enhanced interaction to a desired enablement level, e.g., all or only certain programs can be interacted with by a user. Other factors, including those exemplified above, may be used in the decision making process, e.g., whether the stop is long enough such as highway and very heavy traffic, a blinking red stoplight versus a fixed red light, and so on. If not allowed as evaluated at step 306, step 306 returns to step 302 in this example, so that as long the vehicle remains stopped, the variables may change to allow interaction, e.g., the user may put the vehicle into park.

If allowed, step 308 represents allowing the interaction to a desired extent, which as described above, may be an enhanced level of interaction. While allowed, steps 310 and 312 represent monitoring the ambient state for a change indicative of a need to pay attention to driving. For example, an image may be processed to recognize a stoplight's color, which may be tracked in a camera's field of view over time, to determine when the light changes from red to green. Similarly, one or more brake lights may be detected as on, then turning to off, for example. Depth data may be used to determine changes in distances to objects in front of the vehicle, as well as movement in front, such as pedestrian and cross traffic. Rules may coded into the logic and/or a classifier trained as part of the logic to provide one or more notifications (step 314) based upon transition detection from red light to green light, red brake light or lights on to off, a distance to an object that is constant for a period of time transitioning to a larger distance (or growing to larger and larger), the absence of sensed pedestrian traffic and cross-traffic, and so forth. Note that pedestrian and smaller object sensing may be a separate part of the computation. Depth data may be particularly useful in such sensing, as pedestrians and objects can move in front of a vehicle but then stop; red light or brake light sensing may not be ideal if used alone in such a situation.

When the state transition is detected that indicates that the user needs to pay attention to driving, step 312 branches to step 314 to output the notification or notifications, such as using any combination of animation, special effects, graphics, video, audio, haptic feedback and so forth. After or as part of the notification, step 314 branches to step 316 to disable the interaction to a desired disablement level, e.g., only certain programs, if any, may be interacted with. Some delay may be built into the notification process to allow the user time to react before returning to step 302.

Example Operating Environment

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a suitable mobile device 400 on which aspects of the subject matter described herein may be implemented. The mobile device 400 is only one example of a device and is not intended to suggest any limitation as to the scope of use or functionality of aspects of the subject matter described herein. Neither should the mobile device 400 be interpreted as having any dependency or requirement relating to any one or combination of components illustrated in the example mobile device 400.

With reference to FIG. 4, an example device for implementing aspects of the subject matter described herein includes a mobile device 400. In some embodiments, the mobile device 400 comprises a cell phone, a handheld device that allows voice communications with others, some other voice communications device, or the like. In these embodiments, the mobile device 400 may be equipped with a camera for taking pictures, although this may not be required in other embodiments. In other embodiments, the mobile device 400 may comprise a personal digital assistant (PDA), hand-held gaming device, notebook computer, printer, appliance including a set-top, media center, or other appliance, other mobile devices, or the like. In yet other embodiments, the mobile device 400 may comprise devices that are generally considered non-mobile such as personal computers, servers, or the like.

Components of the mobile device 400 may include, but are not limited to, a processing unit 405, system memory 410, and a bus 415 that couples various system components including the system memory 410 to the processing unit 405. The bus 415 may include any of several types of bus structures including a memory bus, memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures, and the like. The bus 415 allows data to be transmitted between various components of the mobile device 400.

The mobile device 400 may include a variety of computer-readable media. Computer-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by the mobile device 400 and includes both volatile and nonvolatile media, and removable and non-removable media. By way of example, and not limitation, computer-readable media may comprise computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by the mobile device 400.

Communication media typically embodies computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, Bluetooth®, Wireless USB, infrared, Wi-Fi, WiMAX, and other wireless media. Combinations of any of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.

The system memory 410 includes computer storage media in the form of volatile and/or nonvolatile memory and may include read only memory (ROM) and random access memory (RAM). On a mobile device such as a cell phone, operating system code 420 is sometimes included in ROM although, in other embodiments, this is not required. Similarly, application programs 425 are often placed in RAM although again, in other embodiments, application programs may be placed in ROM or in other computer-readable memory. The heap 430 provides memory for state associated with the operating system 420 and the application programs 425. For example, the operating system 420 and application programs 425 may store variables and data structures in the heap 430 during their operations.

The mobile device 400 may also include other removable/non-removable, volatile/nonvolatile memory. By way of example, FIG. 4 illustrates a flash card 435, a hard disk drive 436, and a memory stick 437. The hard disk drive 436 may be miniaturized to fit in a memory slot, for example. The mobile device 400 may interface with these types of non-volatile removable memory via a removable memory interface 431, or may be connected via a universal serial bus (USB), IEEE 4394, one or more of the wired port(s) 440, or antenna(s) 465. In these embodiments, the removable memory devices 435-437 may interface with the mobile device via the communications module(s) 432. In some embodiments, not all of these types of memory may be included on a single mobile device. In other embodiments, one or more of these and other types of removable memory may be included on a single mobile device.

In some embodiments, the hard disk drive 436 may be connected in such a way as to be more permanently attached to the mobile device 400. For example, the hard disk drive 436 may be connected to an interface such as parallel advanced technology attachment (PATA), serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) or otherwise, which may be connected to the bus 415. In such embodiments, removing the hard drive may involve removing a cover of the mobile device 400 and removing screws or other fasteners that connect the hard drive 436 to support structures within the mobile device 400.

The removable memory devices 435-437 and their associated computer storage media, discussed above and illustrated in FIG. 4, provide storage of computer-readable instructions, program modules, data structures, and other data for the mobile device 400. For example, the removable memory device or devices 435-437 may store images taken by the mobile device 400, voice recordings, contact information, programs, data for the programs and so forth.

A user may enter commands and information into the mobile device 400 through input devices such as a key pad 441 and the microphone 442. In some embodiments, the display 443 may be touch-sensitive screen and may allow a user to enter commands and information thereon. The key pad 441 and display 443 may be connected to the processing unit 405 through a user input interface 450 that is coupled to the bus 415, but may also be connected by other interface and bus structures, such as the communications module(s) 432 and wired port(s) 440. Motion detection 452 can be used to determine gestures made with the device 400.

A user may communicate with other users via speaking into the microphone 442 and via text messages that are entered on the key pad 441 or a touch sensitive display 443, for example. The audio unit 455 may provide electrical signals to drive the speaker 444 as well as receive and digitize audio signals received from the microphone 442.

The mobile device 400 may include a video unit 460 that provides signals to drive a camera 461. The video unit 460 may also receive images obtained by the camera 461 and provide these images to the processing unit 405 and/or memory included on the mobile device 400. The images obtained by the camera 461 may comprise video, one or more images that do not form a video, or some combination thereof.

The communication module(s) 432 may provide signals to and receive signals from one or more antenna(s) 465. One of the antenna(s) 465 may transmit and receive messages for a cell phone network. Another antenna may transmit and receive Bluetooth® messages. Yet another antenna (or a shared antenna) may transmit and receive network messages via a wireless Ethernet network standard.

Still further, an antenna provides location-based information, e.g., GPS signals to a GPS interface and mechanism 472. In turn, the GPS mechanism 472 makes available the corresponding GPS data (e.g., time and coordinates) for processing.

In some embodiments, a single antenna may be used to transmit and/or receive messages for more than one type of network. For example, a single antenna may transmit and receive voice and packet messages.

When operated in a networked environment, the mobile device 400 may connect to one or more remote devices. The remote devices may include a personal computer, a server, a router, a network PC, a cell phone, a media playback device, a peer device or other common network node, and typically includes many or all of the elements described above relative to the mobile device 400.

Aspects of the subject matter described herein are operational with numerous other general purpose or special purpose computing system environments or configurations. Examples of well known computing systems, environments, and/or configurations that may be suitable for use with aspects of the subject matter described herein include, but are not limited to, personal computers, server computers, hand-held or laptop devices, multiprocessor systems, microcontroller-based systems, set top boxes, programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, distributed computing environments that include any of the above systems or devices, and the like.

Aspects of the subject matter described herein may be described in the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as program modules, being executed by a mobile device. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, and so forth, which perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Aspects of the subject matter described herein may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote computer storage media including memory storage devices.

Furthermore, although the term server may be used herein, it will be recognized that this term may also encompass a client, a set of one or more processes distributed on one or more computers, one or more stand-alone storage devices, a set of one or more other devices, a combination of one or more of the above, and the like.

CONCLUSION

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and have been described above in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. In a computing environment, a method performed at least in part on at least one processor comprising: allowing one level of user interaction by a user with an interactive mobile device while a vehicle associated with the mobile device is stopped; sensing ambient state relative to the vehicle; determining a state change in the ambient state corresponding to a condition associated with external traffic awareness; outputting a notification; and responsive to determining from input that the vehicle is moving, reducing user interaction with the mobile device to another level of interaction with the mobile device based upon the ambient state changing to the condition associated with external traffic awareness, reducing the user interaction with the mobile device to the other level of interaction comprising disallowing interaction with at least one program that is allowed in the one level of interaction.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the state change comprises processing sensed data to detect a change in a stoplight's state.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the state change comprises processing sensed data to detect a change in at least one brake light's state.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein sensing the ambient state relative to the vehicle comprises capturing depth data, and wherein determining the state change comprises processing the depth data to determine that an object has increased its depth relative to the vehicle over time.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the state change comprises: monitoring for pedestrians near the vehicle; processing sensed data to detect at least one pedestrian of the pedestrians; and notifying the user of the at least one pedestrian of the pedestrians.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein sensing the ambient state relative to the vehicle comprises capturing depth data, and wherein determining the state change comprises processing the sensed data and further comprises processing the depth data.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein allowing one level of interaction comprises allowing interaction with at least one program that is not allowed in the other level of interaction.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein outputting the notification comprises outputting feedback comprising graphics, video, animation, one or more special effects, audio, or haptic feedback, or any combination of graphics, video, animation, one or more special effects, audio, or haptic feedback.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein outputting the notification and reducing the interaction to the other level of interaction comprises gradually transitioning from an interactive state to a notification state.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the state change comprises processing GPS data, user preference data, traffic data or vehicle-related data, or any combination of GPS data, user preference data, traffic data or vehicle-related data.
 11. The method of claim 1, further comprising calibrating a stopped state for the vehicle.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a state change in the ambient state comprises determining whether the vehicle associated with the mobile device is in one of a stop mode and a park mode, the park mode different from the stop mode.
 13. A system comprising: an automotive user interface of a vehicle; a sensor set; and detection and notification logic, the detection and notification logic configured to process sensed data from the sensor set, including to monitor ambient activity near the vehicle, the ambient activity comprising external traffic and pedestrians, and determine a state change with respect to the ambient activity, associated with an external traffic awareness state, the detection and notification logic further configured to output a notification to the automotive user interface upon detection of the state change.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the detection and notification logic and the automotive user interface are incorporated into a mobile device.
 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the sensor set comprises a camera of the mobile device, or a set of one or more sensors coupled to the mobile device, or both a camera of the mobile device and a set of one or more sensors coupled to the mobile device.
 16. The system of claim 13, wherein the sensor set comprises a sensor that captures frames of depth data.
 17. The system of claim 13, wherein the detection and notification logic is further configured to change an allowed level of user interaction with the automotive user interface based upon the detection of the state change.
 18. The system of claim 13, wherein the detection and notification logic is further configured to process GPS data, user preference data, traffic data or vehicle-related data, or any combination of GPS data, user preference data, traffic data or vehicle-related data in association with the state change determination.
 19. The system of claim 13, further comprising: the automotive user interface configured to notify a user of the pedestrians, wherein notification comprises graphics, video, animation, one or more special effects, audio, or haptic feedback, or any combination of graphics, video, animation, one or more special effects, audio, or haptic feedback.
 20. In a computing environment, a method performed at least in part on at least one processor comprising: identifying a vehicle-related parameter; based on the vehicle-related parameter, determining whether the vehicle associated with the mobile device is in one of a stop mode and a park mode, the park mode different from the stop mode; on determining that the vehicle associated with the mobile device is in the stop mode, allowing a first level of user interaction with one or more programs; and on determining that the vehicle associated with the mobile device is in the park mode, allowing a second level of user interaction with the one or more programs, the second level different form the first level. 